The Slovenian seemed set to shoot but at the last second cleverly knocked the ball into the path of Gouffran, who applied a confident finish.

It was seemingly one-way traffic when Ameobi cracked the foot of the post with a drive but Motherwell forced their way back into the contest midway through the half.

First, the home side's trialist striker - believed to be Estonian international Henri Anier - out-muscled Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, only to be denied by Rob Elliot from a tight angle.

But the keeper had no chance seconds later when winger Iain Vigurs fired a fierce, 20-yard, left-footed volley into his bottom corner.

Six minutes before half-time, the Magpies restored their two-goal advantage.

When Sissoko received the ball on the edge of the area surrounded by a clutch of Motherwell defenders, there appeared little on.

However, the midfielder had other ideas, dinking the ball over a challenge before striking a powerful first-time effort goalwards, which Hollis got a hand to but saw it squirm under his body and trickle agonisingly over the line.